The Best Hotels to Book Near Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York

It would be a bit of a throwaway to describe The Knickerbocker Hotel’s red-and-white exterior as iconic, because practically every building around Times Square is iconic. But very few hotels have their own delicious dessert named after them. This magnificent hotel opened in 1906, closed in 1920 and was returned to its original hotel usage in 2015. Although the restaurant is really missing a trick by not offering a knickerbocker glory on the dessert menu.

As the name suggests, Pod Times Square makes utilizing the limited Manhattan space its primary focus. The result is a small space with all the amenities of a larger hotel room, including a work desk, private shower and, in the case of the bunk pod (which replaces the traditional twin room), two TVs: one for each bunk. Although it may be low on space, the Pod still packs in amenities, such as the Polynesian, a trendy cocktail bar.

A minute from the Port Authority Bus Terminal is the AC Hotel, a Marriott property where rooms are decorated in calm earth tones and cozy beds are dressed in crisp, white linens. Each room is designed to appear larger and lighter than the downtown Manhattan real estate prices allow. The floor-to-ceiling windows do a lot to enhance this and offer excellent city views, bettered only by those from the rooftop bar.

Fancy being right in the thick of the New York buzz? Well, the Casablanca Hotel is less than a minute from Broadway and a mere two minutes from Times Square. And yet all that pizazz and all those bright lights dissipate the moment you enter the hotel; its wrought iron balustrades, wood wainscoting, wicker chairs and warm lighting feel like something straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age. You never know, a stay at the Casablanca might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

You don’t need blue blood to stay at the Royalton. This boutique hotel uses a classy blend of charcoal and mahogany tones to create stylish, calming and unpretentious rooms. The city views are a treat, particularly from the penthouse north room, where the solarium windows extend from the floor into a skylight ceiling over the sitting room, while a separate bedroom offers a serene night’s sleep. The foyer’s interior design is a triumphant blend of eclectic textures, tones and lighting.

A few blocks west of the Port Authority Bus Terminal is YOTEL, a bubbly purple-and-white-themed hotel with a youthful appeal. Rooms are designed to maximize space for guests, shaving off sharp corners to create gentle curves and thoughtful amenities from the rainfall showers to the Smartbed, which can be adjusted to recline like a normal bed, or to rise up, creating a more comfortable place to sit and watch TV. Amenities abound in the common spaces, such as the leafy rooftop terrace and the large fitness center.

A few blocks from the New York Public Library and Broadway, Archer Hotel is in the perfect spot for anybody looking to experience as much of Midtown Manhattan as possible. Get a great view of the Empire State Building from the Spyglass rooftop bar or recline in comfort on a chesterfield sofa in the foyer. Rooms continue this precedent of plush style with bathrobes and slippers, and modern fixtures such as USB chargers.

On the fringe of creative Chelsea is the Kimpton Hotel Eventi, a quirky hotel where an eclectic mixture of modern styles and art makes for a memorable stay. An impressive contemporary art collection includes pieces from Mariah Robertson, Kwangho Lee and Ernesto Leal. Rooms are more reserved, with marble bathrooms, expansive window views and little pops of creative color. And when all the sights and sounds of Manhattan have taken their toll, a treatment from the spa is a great way to reset.

Three blocks south of Pennsylvania Station, you’ll find a Chelsea hotel with everything you’re likely to need under one roof. The Cambria has a rooftop lounge with views of the busiest skyline in the world, a bar selling craft beer and cocktails, and a fitness center so that you can keep yourself in shape. Rooms are clean, with a workspace containing a leather chair and an art deco lamp.